The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-04-28

prlsmadc colOrs seems to Rave been
gathered from over the world, fl ON
choice collections, to adorn and
make a bazaar in which the gems
blend and flash on the gay stufis
that form the background. Next
morning, after, refreshing sleep
lulled by the soft strains of music.
up to US from the man moth
hotel pariors, and breakfast of de.
licious fish from Silver Run. we paw
our bill and take the little steamer
Oceola for the Ocklowaka river.
Tine party had gained an accession
and now counts twenty nine. We
are crowded, and Cousin Sallie."
the irrepressable OF every excu. sion,
is in stew. Anxiously we steam
out into the crookedest river. and
the narrowest river, for steamboat
navigation on record! How strange
and weird! See how the large cy-
presses hug each other, yelled il
long Spanish NOES, sweeping down
to the tangled shades below, their
branches often tapping across the
river, giving US strange reflections
from the water, as if passing over
a mirror! The vines whose flowers
vie with esch other in hue and col.
or, climbing in profusion the lofty
and magnificent palmettos as il
trained by skillful gardener. The
alligator basking in the sun scarce
iy deigning to slide from his LOG
into the tortur0us river; or sink
back INTO the Shiny swamp from
which he came. Birds of many
color5 fitting through the darl
woods with strange cries scared by
the noise Of the boats, sometime.
diving down among the fish, and
startling denizens Of the deep, cieal
water; then rising and wingine
their flight like couriers, down th,
stream. Great snakes coiled witt
lifted cTests darting their tongues
out, alligator nests, croaking frogs
water-turkeys, sissorbillS, turtles
and beds of variegated lilies an(
flowers, vary the scene. The boa
darling its Prov into tina woods a
the sharp turns, barking the trees
breaking the limbs from them
sweeping The empty chairs into the
river, often chastising the two ca
ger passenger that do not obey .th
captain s admOnition, so auxiou!
are they TO take in all the strang,
river and the woods; portions Of i
perhaps that never sounded to tn,
blows Of the woodlands axe. "Chao.
come againr'
Is it a dream, a nightmare, o.
have we entered il realty on tn,
weird river Styx, SO graphically de
scri5ed by Milton!
Nay! cousin Sally" a descen-
dant OF William Penn Happy fel
low, that he died without knowing
the relationship slaps me on tht
shoulder and brings me to my feet
DO yon hear the thunder, dream
err "a storm is coming, and +:
hundred miles to travel before W.
reach the mouth of this dreadful
river. THE trees will crush US
and We will be food for the nasty al
hgators. There were thirteen a
one table at dinner to day, you re-
member, and knew and felt calam
tiles were ahead! O why did l eve
cone on this nasty river?' ''Well.'
| replied, "whatever is, is right
You will not be missed an hundred
years hence. Take this comfort t,
heart and be patient" A louC
peal Of thunder startIes US,
The black clouds rush upor
us and hanging seemingly just
above the trees tops from which
tOrked lightnings leap and thun-
ders roll. The reflections in thu
water were startling. Two storm.
and the little steamer posing be-
tween them!
So clear were the clouds and play
Of lightning mirrored in the trans
parent waters. The clouds grew
inky and a momentary hush stol,
over everything; women trem bleC
and men looked pale. Anothe
peal of thunder that shook the boat
then the lightning and thunder
ieaped from the clouds together
tearing the limbs from a cypres,
and making q fiery track of molter
lava down its sides! Womel
screamed and audible prayers wer,
beard from lips that perhaps neve
prayed under smiling skies. Thu
wind like mighty giant gathere,
its strength and opened on our lit
tie boat. She trembled like an as
pen leaf IS she stood waiting for TIL
violence Of the storm to subside
Trees sgayed above US and aroun(
US. Broken limbs swept past ant
fell with a crash beyond the vessel
Cousin Sally in histories, wiring
ing her hands, and wishing sh,
had never come on this dreadful
river. Even my philosophic friends
Miss Abbott, Miss Shumaker ant
Corbet are wild with fright, ant
their brothers trying to sooth them
{ a bit less frightened than them
seIves) The rain pours in tor
rents, shutting out from my ear
the human uproar so painful tt
bear, in this appalling dilemma
1t is night: Utter darkness i
upon us! The rain has subsidet
and there is a moan coming u
from the woods, human-like in it
utterances. Some one suggests i
is the spirits of the Indians griev-
ing for their homes from which
they have been banished by tn
pale faces and will not be quoted
Great pine knots are put in irol
vessels and lighted and placed OF
top of the boat. The more timic
beg the boat will be tied up unit
morning; hut the old captain, 'griz-
ly with age, like Charon, declare
the boat is safe, though scared, ant
her officers Trustworthy; and pro
ceeds on his tortuous way by tn
glare OF the pine knots, dashing in
to the woods the PROV of the boa
as usual, to turn in the stream.
What Il scene for eye to dwell
uponi Can the most fruitful imag
nation paint it? No it must b.
seen and felt. Neither a Church O.